Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts

Each version of Microsoft Windows since Windows 95 has introduced new keyboard shortcuts using the “Windows” key. At first there were only a few keyboard shortcuts, and most of them haven’t been that useful. Windows Vista is the operating system that added the most keyboard shortcut changes, since there were a ton of new features that could be executed and Windows 7 added a few more.

Windows 8 has added 16 new keyboard shortcuts, thanks mostly to its confusing Metro UI. Some familiar keyboard shortcuts have been replaced with “Metro-ized” versions, such as Flip 3D. There are even more keyboard shortcuts to open new Charms features, and to manipulate Metro programs around the screen.

The Windows 8 Charms Bar (left) and Search Charm (right)

We have for you the complete list of Windows keyboard shortcuts (even back to Windows 3.1 days), and tell you which ones no longer work on Windows 8.